Monday, August 17, 2015

The windows are all open right now since it is finally cool enough, and as I was making lunch I heard what sounded like fireworks in the backyard. That seemed like an odd occurrence, especially since it has been raining all day, and as I looked out at the backyard I saw the branch slowly bend, break, and fall on the compost pile.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

… I got to thinking about how much time I spend in my life
crashing around like a great gasping fish, either squirming away from some
uncomfortable distress or flopping hungrily toward ever more pleasure. And I wondered whether it might serve me (and
those are burdened with the task of loving me) if I could learn to stay still
and endure a bit more that always getting dragged along on the potholed road of
circumstance.

-- Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat,
Pray, Love, page 173

I gotta say, this passage in the book hit me right between the eyes, especially the first sentence. Yes, that's me, I say with a cringe.

But at least it's not ALL I am. That unearned beautiful gift faith saves the believer from being merely that fish, from ONLY seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

I will add that Eat, Pray, Love is not a particularly Christian book. In fact, it's strives to be inclusive and ends up being probably more Buddhist than anything else. But I found it thought-provoking and it did not at all tempt to wander from Christianity. It's a snapshot of a lot of modern culture.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

... I went with Arwen to get her ears pierced. She was totally calm the whole time.

But still glad when it was over, I think.

... I volunteered at the Thrift Store with the merry madcap Stacy R.

... had more fun helping my sister Rachel get her bridesmaid's dress shorten then anyone else has on such an errand. I know people. My friend Carla of St. Ann's Sewing Studio, to be exact. So we went over to her house to play.

... Taught Alex and Rachel to play Forbidden Desert, which we won. It's a cooperative board game, a good choice for mixed ages.